Scott F

No part smallmouth.

Coincidence.

Just like with any fish, there is no one best time, best lure, best color or best pattern to catch a walleye. One day, a particular lure in a particular color at a particular time will just kill them. Tomorrow, it can all change. That's why fishermen have big tackle boxes. Better fishermen have bigger tackle boxes. There are just too many variables to say one is best. Probably the most commonly used lure is a jig and minnow, fished during low light conditions. They could be in shallow weeds, deep rock humps or somewhere in between. That's the part you have to figure out on your own.

Replace them every year? I've had my boat 25 years and have not replaced the bunks yet. What's the difference between the Ultimate Bunk Boards and the plastic lumber used in decking which is about half the price?

The fastest way to become a better fisherman is to fish with guys who know what they're doing. There are a lot of fishing clubs in the Chicago area (not just tournament clubs) that are loaded with good fisherman. Pick up a copy of "The Outdoor Notebook" magazine available for free at most tackle shops around Chicago. Local clubs have updates on club activities in the magazine. Join one and go to the meetings and outings. Many of the clubs are multi-species clubs so you can get exposed to all kinds of fishing opportunities. Use sites like this one to refine your tactics and apply new ideas when you are on club outings. The more active in the club you are, the more fishermen you'll meet and get to fish with. You can learn more on one season with a club than you could learn in many years on your own.

I've never been in Buffalo before but within 30 seconds on Google I found a bunch of shore fishing spots. Have you tried Tonawanda Creek? Rivers are great bass spots in summer. I easily found this information that may help you. "Tonawanda Creek and the Erie Barge Canal are good places to catch a variety of warmwater species such as smallmouth bass, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, northern pike, bullhead and channel catfish. Downstream of Route 277, multiple municipal parks offer shore access to Tonawanda Creek. Upstream of the confluence with the Erie Canal, Tonawanda Creek is best fished from a canoe or kayak. There is plentiful shore access to the Erie Canal east of Lockport." If you limit yourself to a 30 minute drive, you may not catch what you're looking for. I sometimes drive over 300 miles when I can to get the fish I want. Those who catch fish do what they have to do to get them.

I don't know what a shock rod is either. I use 8lb Fireline on all my spinning reels and have done so for years. I buy it in 1500 yard spools.

I've had muskies bite clean through big sucker minnows which are a lot more durable than a senko.

Summer time is a hot bite for me, but not on lakes. Rivers have shallow bass that are easy to catch all summer long. Give them a try.

There could be a lot of reasons for the drop in catch rates. When the water drops a foot in a river that is already shallow enough for you to wade in, that's huge. That alone would move fish. Other fishermen might have been fishing that same stretch right before you. They may have only moved a short distance or spread out. Some days, they'll be in slow water, some days fast water. A change in water temps will move them around. Some days, they are active when you are there some days they aren't. Keep at it. Try a few different baits and some new water. You can't expect to catch them like you did every day. I wish it worked like that.

I agree with Rambler. I don't have a stereo in my boat and I do not want to listen to yours. Sound carries a long distance over water. There are few people on the water who want to listen to whatever is coming from your boat. If you have to listen to music or the radio while you fish, get headphones.

In what part of the country was it caught?

Where was it caught? Look like a white perch.

I only eat fish once or twice a year when I'm on fishing trip. If we get walleye or two, or a pike, we'll fillet that up but never a bass. I don't like any fish that has been frozen or not REALLY fresh. If it wasn't alive an hour before it hit the frying pan, I won't eat it.

It's so that you can see the line. Being able to see the line move when a fish picks up your bait lets you know you have a bite before you feel it.

I don't know about windy conditions turning on the bite, but I fish the windy shorelines where the wind has been pounding for a while. It works often enough for me that I usually look for it. Same thing for fish turning on before a front comes in. It has worked for me many many times. Deep water can be very productive IF you know which deep water is holding fish. Most of the things that don't work for you, do work for me except for; 4) The intersection of several types of vegetation makes a good target. I never heard that one before.

Whatever you use, it will only be temporary. Nothing will stick to the line and will come off on your gear.

My friend Bill and I did a float trip in my pontoons on a river in the U.P. of Michigan. The weather was warm and sunny with a good breeze blowing against the current that slowed down the drift somewhat. Bill was having success throwing stick worms on the downstream side of fallen timber and I was getting mine throwing a #4 plain Mepps spinner with a silver blade along shoreline drop offs and areas where faster moving water was boiling over boulders. I was using a 7', medium light St. Croix Premier spinning rod with 8lb Fireline (no leader). Between us, we caught almost 80 smallies over the course of an 8 hour float with all year classes of bass being represented. Numerous fish were in the 17 to 19 inch range. Few photos were taken because Bill and I were seldom close enough to each other in the pontoons to get a good picture. The fight of those strong bronze beauties was just unbelievable. It's just a matter of holding on waiting for them to get tired which it seems they never did. They just have a talent for getting airborne and spitting the lure back at you. All I could do was smile when it happened because I knew I'd be getting another opportunity to do battle again soon. My friend Bill with one of many nice smallies.

There is 8lb Fireline on all my spinning rigs and I never, ever use a leader.

I have it. It has a lot more maps with contour lines than the maps included in the unit. Sometimes it seems that there may be too much detail. If the lake you are on has Hot Spots marked, the symbols can get in the way of the map details you would like to see. I see you live in the same town I do. Before you buy the map chip, I'd loan you mine so you can see exactly what it has and if it suits your needs. I'm out of town on a fishing trip right now but send me a PM and maybe we can hook up when I get back.

Catfish don't have scales and have whiskers or barbells. The coloration and fin location suggest a hog nose sucker but the mouth does not look right for a sucker.

How deep was the fish caught? 3 feet Did the lure contain rattles or have hinges? NO Was the lure a natural color (brown, green) or was it an unnatural color (chartreuse, orange)? Natural, live shiner If possible, what moon phase was your PB caught during? 4 days after the full moon

That's not a flyrod. It's a spinning rod. It has what they call a Tennesee handle. You use a spinning reel. the silver rings allow you to position the reel where you want it. Fly rods have a different reel seat and snake guides.

Are your hooks sharp? Inexpensive baits usually come with dull hooks that won't sink in even a with a good hook set. Make sure to have a hook sharpener and use it.

Have you got any oars? Leaving the oars in the water will help slow the boat from spinning.